French Conversation · Level 37
74 words
French word
pente
Pronunciation
IPA/pɑ̃t/
Meaning
- feminine nounslope
Example
Les fleurs poussent bien sur la pente.
The flowers grow well on the slope.
More examples
Après la pluie, la pente est boueuse.
After the rain, the slope is muddy.
Core concept
A tilted stretch of ground, road, or built surface along which movement goes upward or downward.
Common phrases
descendre la pente
descend the slope
une pente douce
a gentle slope
Similar words
côte: A short incline or sloping section of a road.
montée: An uphill section of a road or route.
descente: A downhill section of a road or route.
rampe: A sloped passage for wheelchairs or carts to overcome a level difference.
Definition in French
Portion inclinée d'un sol, d'une voie ou d'une construction, caractérisée par une déclivité permettant la montée et la descente.
Word origin
The French noun pente developed from Old French pente, related to Latin pendere, "to hang," through the idea of an inclined surface.
Usage tips
- In "sur une pente glissante," pente is part of an idiom meaning a harmful course of action, not only a literal slippery slope.